The Los Angeles Clippers (36-37) travel to the Mile High City to play the Denver Nuggets (42-30). Tip-off at the Ball Arena is scheduled for 10 p.m. ET (TNT). Below, we look at the Clippers vs. Nuggets odds and lines, and make our expert NBA picks, predictions and bets.
L.A. has lost 4 of its last 5 games — 1-3 against the spread (ATS) — including three straight at the Cleveland Cavaliers 120-111 in overtime March 14, the Toronto Raptors Wednesday 103-100 and at the Utah Jazz Friday 121-99.
Denver has lost back-to-back games, at the Cavs Friday 119-116 in overtime and the Boston Celtics Sunday 124-104. In the last two weeks, the Nuggets are 3-4 straight up (SU) and 2-5 ATS.
The Nuggets are 2-1 SU versus the Clippers this season, but L.A. is 3-0 ATS and the total is 1-2 Over/Under (O/U).
Clippers at Nuggets odds, spread and lines
Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 1:06 p.m. ET.
- Money line (ML): Clippers +220 (bet $100 to win $220) | Nuggets -280 (bet $280 to win $100)
- Against the spread: Clippers +6.5 (-110) | Nuggets -6.5 (-110)
- Over/Under: 222.5 (O: -108 | U: -112)
Clippers at Nuggets key injuries
Clippers
- None
Nuggets
- PG Jamal Murray (knee) out
[tipico]
Clippers at Nuggets odds, lines, picks and predictions
Prediction
Nuggets 115, Clippers 103
Money line
PASS because the Nuggets (-280) should be extra motivated for several reasons and Denver should win by margin here.
But the Nuggets are too expensive for any NBA regular-season ML favorite. An example would be Monday’s Heat-76ers game where Philly upset Miami without both Joel Embiid and James Harden.
The Clippers (+220) could obviously have a hot-shooting night and pull out an upset.
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Against the spread
BET the NUGGETS -6.5 (-110) because they should be at peak motivation since they are the 6-seed in the West, the final non-play-in seed, and only a half-game ahead of the seventh-place Minnesota Timberwolves.
On top of that, Denver big Nikola Jokic is playing against Marcus Morris, the twin brother of Markieff Morris who Jokic injured in an on-court altercation during the Nuggets-Heat game, Nov. 9. Jokic with any extra motivation is a force on the court.
Furthermore, there’s no love lost between these two teams considering they’ve met in the playoffs in recent seasons.
Also, Nuggets SG Austin Rivers played for L.A. under his father Doc Rivers and role players like Rivers typically play better at home. If Jokic has a big game, all he’ll need is one or two role players to step up for the Nuggets to cruise past the Clippers.
Plus L.A. could be a fake sharp play since the Clippers are considered a plucky underdog and are 19-17 ATS when getting points. But, L.A. is just 3-6 ATS as 5-to-7-point underdogs and 0-4 ATS in the last four games versus teams with a winning record.
BET 1 unit on the NUGGETS -6.5 (-110).
Over/Under
LEAN UNDER 222.5 (-112) since it’s presumably the sharp play and the Under is 4-1 in the last five Clippers-Nuggets meetings.
According to Pregame.com, more money is on Denver but more bets have been placed on L.A. Since the sharps wager more cash than the public, the money column is considered the sharp side of the market.
Also, both teams play at a below-average pace, have a below-average offensive FT/FGA rate and a top-10 defensive FT/FGA rate.
It’s only a LEAN to the UNDER 222.5 (-112) because I feel stronger about Denver’s spread.
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